Thanks for making time to listen to a few of my stories.
I have always been interested in American history but heading a children's charity and raising a family did not allow time. Upon retirement I spent several years re reading those history books that I had just read in school to pass the test. During these reads, I paid particular attention to record (for retelling) those interesting and informative stories my history teachers didn't have time to share.
I organized Santa Express Trains to the North Pole for 10 years during my tenure with the children's charity. This intensified my passion for trains which I had had from youth. Upon retirement, I continued feeding my train passion by riding most of Amtrak's trains, even serving as an Amtrak tour guide.
My train passion went through the roof when I learned Robert Todd Lincoln arguably set the record for riding the most miles on trains before age 25, and while Secretary of War he traveled by train to many military places out West, AND at age 55 replaced George Pullman as the CEO of nation's largest rail manufacturing company, the Pullman Palace Car Co. Robert serve as CEO for 11 years and then continue as chairman of the Board for another 14 years! He definitely became a railroad baron.
With this knowledge, I chose to become a Robert Todd Lincoln reenactor. I found only 2 books on Robert Todd Lincoln. Yet, these books contained valuable information and stories I found delight in sharing as his reenactor.
For information and stories about
Robert Todd Lincoln tap here Mary Todd Lincoln tap here
Questions
Georgetown Loop
Why did this railroad stop building West?
Leadville
How many railroads eventually served the mining town of Leadville?
Heading north out of Leadville why did one railroad take the high road and the other railroad took the low road?
Cumbres and Toltec RR
What person is buried on the Cumbres Pass - the highest point on this railroad?
Colorado Springs - established by William Jackson Palmer of the Denver & Rio Grande RR
Why was Colorado Springs called 'Little London'?
Why did William Jackson Palmer, a Quaker, president of the Denver and Rio Grande, refer to himself as ‘General’.
Why was his railroad called the “baby railroad”.?
What was Palmer’s railroad ultimate destination?
How did he meet his wife?
Durango
Who built the railroad west from Durango through the San Juan Mountains, a railroad that most said could not be built?
After covering this in our last conversation, I thought you might like
a slide presentation on the topic.
In the 1870's, the little Santa Fe RR began in Topeka, KS. Eventually, they would take on the mighty Southern Pacific RR who had a monopoly on California and did everything possible
to maintain that monopoly.
This slide presentation goes into a little more detail in the fight between Santa Fe and the Denver & Rio Grande.
1221
Congratulations on your 40 years in Lockport!!
December 3 conversation followup…
Metra's Heritage Line did not host the Cafe Car. Cafe Care was on 7 of Metra's lines.
He Rode 2.5 million Miles on Trains
Achilles Heel in Geneva Metra Station
U.S. Census Bureau considers the following 'Race'
White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Also, "Some Other Race" option, with recent updates adding a new category for "Middle Eastern or North African"
Clarification: Who Owns Tracks Running Through Lockport?
Canadian National owns the tracks behind your house from Chicago to Joliet.
However, Union Pacific has permission to use those tracks.
BNSF owns the tracks west of the Canadian National tracks.
Union Pacific owns the tracks from Joliet to St. Louis. Passenger trains are now authorized to run as high as 125 mph
starting around Braidwood to Bloomington. Soon, there will be high speed all the way to St. Louis.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker plans to sign SB 2111 known as the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act into law
This law will provide a new funding source for the state's public transit and reorganize the regional transit system under a new authority, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA).
The bill will use money from sources like gas and road fund interest to avert service cuts and fare hikes for the RTA, CTA, Pace, and Metra.
Key provisions include redirecting motor fuel sales taxes and road fund interest, implementing a higher sales tax in areas with mass transit, and increasing tolls.
Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act (SB2111) Overview Governance
• Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) is established to replace the Regional Transportation
Authority (RTA) effective June 2026.
The NITA Board is made up of 20 Directors, with the Chair selected by the directors.
Appointments: 5 each from Chicago Mayor, Cook County President, Governor; one each
from DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will Counties
17 of 20 NITA directors also serve on either CTA, Metra, or Pace service boards
o NITA Board action:
§ 12 votes with at least 2 “yes” votes from each of the 4 appointing authorities OR 15
“yes” votes out of 20
o NITA establishes ADA and Rider Advisory Councils
• Transit service board appointing authorities will change as follows:
CTA service board- 7 Directors: Mayor (3); Governor (2); Cook County President (2);
[4i are also NITA directors]
Metra service board – 11 Directors; Governor (1); Mayor (2); Cook County (3); one each
from DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will Counties [6 are also NITA Directors]
Pace service board – 11 Directors: Governor (1); Mayor (2); Cook County (3); one each
from DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will [7 are also NITA Directors]
Operations
NITA is responsible for regional transit planning, fare setting, budgeting, capital programming,
marketing, major project delivery, etc.
Service Standards and Service Plans will be created at a regional level, so transit is provided where
it is most needed and supported based on regional standards
NITA is required to deliver fare integration (by 2/1/2030), as well as fare capping and regionally
integrated information for riders, i.e., schedules, connections, alerts
NITA handles debt issuance moving forward (CTA retains bonding authority for 2 major Red Line
projects)
NITA defines job description for Service Board executive directors, participates in their selection,
conducts annual evaluations, and may remove them from positions
Collective bargaining agreements will remain with Service Boards for employee continuity
An Office of Disability Planning and Policy will be established within NITA and a regional Transit
Accessibility Plan will be developed
Safety
NITA establishes a Law Enforcement Task Force led by Cook County Sheriff in collaboration with
Chicago Police, Metra Police, Illinois State Police, and local jurisdictions
Report on ongoing safety strategies due to ILGA by 12/1/26
Within 3 years, the Law Enforcement Task Force will develop a recommended plan to
transition to a sworn law enforcement crime prevention program
§ NITA will vote on enacting law enforcement crime prevention program
• Establish Office of Transit Safety and Experience to oversee regional safety strategy
• Regional Transit Ambassadors program will be established by 7/1/27
• NITA establishes the NITA Board Safety SubcommitteeTransit-Supportive Development
• Parking minimums are abolished within one-half mile of transit hubs and 1/8 mile of transit corridors
with frequent service statewide
• NITA is allowed to participate in transit-oriented development/joint development in partnership with
local jurisdictions
• Communities are enabled to partner with NITA to provide enhanced transit service
Roadway Policies to Support Transit
• The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, and
counties and municipalities shall collaborate with and provide support to the NITA and other public
transit providers in the implementation of bus rapid transit
• IDOT will create a Transit Integration Policy Development Committee and hire a Transit
Coordination Oversight Officer to develop transit-friendly policies
• As part of performance-based programming, IDOT must evaluate projects for mode-shift away from
single-occupant vehicle trips
Transition
• Effective date of NITA Act is 6/1/26
• New NITA Board and Service boards seated by 9/1/26
• IDOT contracts for transition consultant by 9/1/26
• NITA establishes a Transition Working Group with 15 members by 10/1/26
• NITA Transition Plan completed with report to ILGA by 7/1/27
Funding
• Current sales tax on motor fuels will fund transit operations (approx. $860M per year)
o 85% to NITA and 15% to downstate transit agencies
• 0.25% increase in current RTA regional transit sales taxii for NITA region operations (approx.
$450M per year)
• Interest on State Road Fund estimated at $200M per year to fund transit capital
o 90% to NITA and 10% to downstate transit agencies
• Current statutory funding formulas are abolished; after 6-year transition period, all funding will be
allocated to Service Boards based on Service Standards/Service Plan
• Paratransit continues to be prioritized in the regional transit budget
i A drafting error needs to be corrected to clarify that 4 of 7 CTA board seats overlap with NITA board seats
ii RTA board must vote to enact in RTA region